Obit: Karstens, Pamela S. “Pam” (1945 - 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Karstens, Spencer, Evatt, Berg, Smith, Ortmann, Mahoney, Driscoll, Miller, Leone, Kendall, Harbour, Lee, Morris

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 2/26/2014

Karstens, Pamela S. “Pam” (26 December 1945 - 17 February 2014)

Pamela S. “Pam” Karstens, 68, of Westby died Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.

Pam was born Dec. 26, 1945, in Illinois to Roger and Marjorie (Spencer) Evatt. Pam lived a rich and active life with many achievements. Her post high school education included an associate degree in nursing from the College of DuPage, IL; Bachelor of Science - nursing at UW-Stevens Point; Master of Science - nursing, with a Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society Award, UW-Madison; and her doctorate in philosophy - adult community education, UW-Madison. Pam also received her cheesemakers license from the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture. Pam received a Madison community Services Award for her outstanding work in promoting the welfare of children and knowledge of sustainable healthy food through the Garden of Eating Project. She based most of her doctoral dissertation on the work she did with Walnut Way, a community organization in Milwaukee devoted to creating an economically diverse community with a strong focus on environmental stewardship involving the neighbors and children living there.

Pam’s grassroots approach to community involvement touched everyone who met her. She had a generous soul and fiery spirit and a smile and intellect that warmed all around her. She was active in the Madison urban chicken movement helping to educate people in raising them as well as appearing in the documentary “Mad City Chickens.”

She was a naturalist and advocate for women, and children, food sustainability, global warming awareness and all things flora and fauna. No matter where she lived, gardens grew and animals thrived. Her research travels took her to Nicaragua, Costa Rica and El Salvador. She was passionate about the Latin American culture, their food, and spoke fluent Spanish. Pam also enjoyed travels to Scotland, Peru and Spain. She loved the Southwest; mountain biking in Colorado and Utah and was fond of Taos, NM.

Her nursing career was varied, including hospitals in Spencer, WV, Marshfield, Stevens Point and Madison, and she was always devoted to her patients, no matter what the specialty. Her hobbies were numerous: playing ukulele, spinning and knitting, birding, canning, cooking, sewing, embroidery, beadwork, bicycling, hiking, camping; raising chickens, guinea hens, and dairy goats; canoeing, drawing, listening to many kinds of music, watching old movies and always reading, especially history and Sherlock Holmes. She was a prolific writer of stories and poems. Pam also owned and operated her organic artisanal goat cheese farm in Westby. Her chèvre was considered one of the best around! She took great pride in the land, converting a portion of her property to prairie where the wildflowers and songbirds flourished.

She is survived by her devoted partner of 30 years, Dan Berg, of Westby; her children, Chris Smith and Julie Ortmann, both of Neillsville; Pau8la Mahoney of New York, NY, and Mark Karstens of Seattle, WA; her sister, Anne Driscoll of La Grange, IL; grandsons, Ben Miller of La Crosse and Spencer and Neil Ortmann, both of Neillsville; nieces and nephews, Kevin, Julia, Mary Kate and Neil Driscoll, all of Illinois; and her former husband and dear friend, Steve Karstens of Neillsville.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A Celebration of Life memorial lunch was held Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, at 2 p.m. in the Café at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5250 Justin Rd., La Crosse. There was no visitation.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pam’s name to Wisconsin Public Radio.

Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home and Crematory (Woodruff Chapel), La Crosse, assisted the family. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com. 

We would like to thank the following people for supporting her family in this time of great sorrow: Gundersen Lutheran Staff: The wonderful nursing staff on sixth floor, the respiratory therapy staff with a special thanks to Cari for taking time out of her work day to stop and visit with Mom; the compassionate hospice staff; Chaplain Corinne - a beautiful soul who meant more to us than words can say; Dr. M. Leone for his sharing Mom’s love of reading with her; Marcia Kendall for her gentle forth-rightness and guidance; Dr. Harbour and Dr. Lee for their caring and compassion and Dr. Morris for being there to help us at the end. To all the staff at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and to all of the dear friends who reached out to support Mom and her family; we sincerely thank you.